27.10.04
Belfast Telegraph
Weapons supremo back but no sign of move
By Noel McAdam, Political Correspondent
nmcadam@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
27 October 2004
Decommissioning supremo General John de Chastelain has returned to Northern Ireland as attempts go on to secure a deal to restore devolution.
His arrival back in Belfast did not appear to have boosted expectations of further disarmament, however.
Instead increasing uncertainty appears to have clouded the likelihood of a comprehensive resolution in the near future.
DUP sources are playing down the prospect of any imminent IRA decommissioning 'event' despite a flurry of speculation.
"They won't do anything this side of a deal being arrived at. Why would they?"
Meanwhile, the Government was today studying the detail of the latest report from the International Monitoring Commission, as Sinn Fein again called the body's credibility into question.
The four commissioners - Lord Alderdice, John Grieve, Joe Brosnan and Richard Kerr - delivered their latest tome to the Government today and are due to travel to Dublin tomorrow.
Government officials are likely to spend a few days studying the report which will then be made public.
Sinn Fein today criticised the Commission as an "echo-chamber" for the "securocrats" and said it had no credibility among nationalists.
West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty said: "The information contained in these reports comes solely from the Special Branch, British Military Intelligence and MI5. We all know the anti-peace process and anti-republican agenda that these faceless organisations pursue. The IMC operates completely outside the terms of the Good Friday Agreement."
The criticism comes after the Commission admitted its last report wrongly identified a Bangor man, Michael O'Hare, as a UDA murder victim. The Commission is to explain the error following publication of the new report.
Meanwhile, DUP leader Ian Paisley and deputy Peter Robinson and Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness have met officials in London for separate talks.
Weapons supremo back but no sign of move
By Noel McAdam, Political Correspondent
nmcadam@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
27 October 2004
Decommissioning supremo General John de Chastelain has returned to Northern Ireland as attempts go on to secure a deal to restore devolution.
His arrival back in Belfast did not appear to have boosted expectations of further disarmament, however.
Instead increasing uncertainty appears to have clouded the likelihood of a comprehensive resolution in the near future.
DUP sources are playing down the prospect of any imminent IRA decommissioning 'event' despite a flurry of speculation.
"They won't do anything this side of a deal being arrived at. Why would they?"
Meanwhile, the Government was today studying the detail of the latest report from the International Monitoring Commission, as Sinn Fein again called the body's credibility into question.
The four commissioners - Lord Alderdice, John Grieve, Joe Brosnan and Richard Kerr - delivered their latest tome to the Government today and are due to travel to Dublin tomorrow.
Government officials are likely to spend a few days studying the report which will then be made public.
Sinn Fein today criticised the Commission as an "echo-chamber" for the "securocrats" and said it had no credibility among nationalists.
West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty said: "The information contained in these reports comes solely from the Special Branch, British Military Intelligence and MI5. We all know the anti-peace process and anti-republican agenda that these faceless organisations pursue. The IMC operates completely outside the terms of the Good Friday Agreement."
The criticism comes after the Commission admitted its last report wrongly identified a Bangor man, Michael O'Hare, as a UDA murder victim. The Commission is to explain the error following publication of the new report.
Meanwhile, DUP leader Ian Paisley and deputy Peter Robinson and Sinn Fein's Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness have met officials in London for separate talks.
